Invista’s Cordura brand and Manhattan Portage, a designer and producer of urban lifestyle bags, have announced their latest collaboration under the motto Bags to the Future.

The upcoming collection of bags pays tribute to its classic design with a wicked colour scheme, liner featuring 80’s inspired icons like the Walkman, Rubiks Cube, cassette tape and turntable and will be available commercially in October. The bags will feature customized collaborative logo and 80’s retro inspired Cordura fabric hangtags.

80 years of combined innovation

A radical soft launch of samples from the 80’s-inspired collection was on display at the Summer Outdoor Retailer, which took place from 5-8 August, in Salt Lake City, UT. “We wanted to celebrate Manhattan Portage’s long-term dedication to innovation and their part in Cordura brand’s heritage story,” said Cordura brand global brand director, Cindy McNaull.

“The inspiration for this collection was born at our favourite 80’s spot in Soho where we jointly conceptualized ideas, focusing on the classic Manhattan Portage urban design with updated color scheme to reflect an 80’s vibe that celebrates our 80 years of combined innovation. We are very excited to debut this collection, and celebrate our long standing relationship with Manhattan Portage.”

Collaboration

The collection represents a flashback to Soho, 1983, when a new messenger bag brand, Manhattan Portage was on the rise and needed a durable fabric technology to take its bags to the max, the company report.

On its journey, the company collaborated with Cordura brand becoming one of the first brands to use Cordura nylon in messenger bags. For the last 30 years, the two companies have worked together on numerous projects, creating stylish urban bags.

Original pieces

The 80’s theme holds value to this collaboration in more ways than one. Not only is the collection totally 80’s inspired based on the original pieces introduced, but Manhattan Portage’s messenger bag expertise and Cordura fabric’s long lasting durability combine to bring 80 years of innovation to on-the-go gear.

“This collection pays homage to Manhattan Portage’s roots in time and in place,” said Su Hwei, CEO of Manhattan Portage. “Since 1983, Cordura fabric understood our philosophy of “New York Tough,” and helped us expand that innovation globally; now, we look back at where we have been, and how far we have come, and it’s time to celebrate.”